My Completely Unremarkable Perimenopausal Daily Wins

Posted on January 7, 2026 by suzie81speaks

In my twenties, I was convinced that by the time I reached my forties, I would have everything impressively figured out and be firmly in control of my life.

Instead, I generally live a daily life of small, deeply unexciting victories that only make sense if you are also a grown perimenopausal adult with a body that complains more frequently than you’re used to and some sort of vague sense of responsibility.

When the hormones are raging, some days my biggest win is remembering why I have walked into a room without having to completely retrace my steps. On others, it is putting clean washing away instead of creating yet another ‘clean but not put away’ chair situation. Yesterday, I made a meal that wasn’t completely beige, and even better, I did not burst into tears over something objectively minor. On another day, I did cry, but I correctly identified why, rather than getting upset about not being able to find my keys like last time. I woke up last week at 3am and resisted the urge to mentally rewrite my entire life. I repeatedly choose comfort over aesthetics (my sweatpants, hoodies and fluffy socks make up about 90% of my wardrobe), I can’t remember the last time I bothered to put makeup on when I left the house… and I feel zero shame about any of it. At this point, it all counts as progress.

Royalty free image credit: FotoRieth on Pixabay

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A Change of Routine: Rethinking Productivity and Pressure

Posted on January 4, 2026 by suzie81speaks

Like many, today is the final day before I return to work after the holidays. There is a mixture of anticipation and excitement of the potential of the next twelve months, and an underlying feeling of unease, which makes me a little uncomfortable.

At the beginning of the holidays, it took longer than I expected to properly decompress. My mind stayed busy, running through lists even though there was nowhere I needed to be and nothing I needed to do. It was only after about a week that I truly began to relax.

Now that I have reached a place of rest, the thought of going from 0-100 overnight and switching straight back into work mode feels more than a little challenging. Time away has been a reminder of how important rest and space are and how easily work can expand if boundaries are not actively maintained.

Royalty-free image credit: Peter Olexa from Pixabay

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2026: The Big One

Posted on January 1, 2026 by suzie81speaks

Happy New Year!

The Bloke and I kept things very quiet, exactly how we wanted it. Snacky treats ready to go, the first of the Lord of the Rings trilogy (ready to do the next two today), the London fireworks on the TV, and no pressure to be anywhere or do anything more than that. It was low-key, comfortable, and a really nice way to see the year. Long gone are the days of fighting for breathing space in nightclubs, wearing eye-wateringly high-heels and spending a fortune on just a few drinks.

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2025: A Year in Review

Posted on December 31, 2025 by suzie81speaks

Over the last few years, I’ve added a Memories & Highlights double page spread to my Bullet Journal. It’s a simple way of capturing the positive moments from the past twelve months, and I’ve found it especially helpful when things feel heavy or overwhelming.

It’s not always easy to stay positive when the news and the cost of living are relentlessly bleak, and this year has been challenging in plenty of ways for most people, myself included. However, I think it matters to notice the good with gratitude, while also acknowledging the more difficult moments so you can move forward. 2025 hasn’t been perfect, but compared to recent years (like 2023, which was particularly brutal) it has actually been a year to look back on and being incredibly grateful for.

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Creating My 45 Before 45 List: A Year to Look Forward To

Posted on November 26, 2025 by suzie81speaks

Back in October, I had a simple realisation: in November 2026 I will celebrate my 45th birthday. The thought didn’t bother me in the slightest – as I have aged my mindset has very much become that ageing is a privilege, and despite having my ass kicked by perimenopause I actually really enjoy being in my 40s. What it did make me think about, however, was how I wanted the coming year ahead to feel. I know myself well enough to recognise that I function best when I have goals and the sense that I am moving forwards and making progress. The problem is that for the last few years, most of my goals have been professional ones, focusing on work, productivity and getting things done, rather than about doing things simply because they matter to me as a person.

So, I feel it is a good time to shift the balance.

Image credit: Royalty-free image **karolinagrabowska** (Pixabay)

I decided that I wanted things to look forward to, things that would make the next twelve months a bit more intentional and a bit more enjoyable. Turning 45 doesn’t feel like a big dramatic milestone, but it is a good moment to check in with myself and decide what I want the year to be about.

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Slowing Down to Move Forward

Posted on November 1, 2025 by suzie81speaks

At the beginning of the year, I made a deliberate effort to take back control of my life. I had become aware that the pace I was keeping wasn’t sustainable, so I took some fairly extensive steps to create more balance and structure. I wanted to be more intentional with my time, to focus on what genuinely mattered rather than getting caught up in the constant state of being ‘busy.’

For the first few months, it worked well. I felt calmer, more focused, and was far better at managing my time and energy. But gradually, without really noticing, old habits began to creep back in. One small commitment led to another, and before long, that balance that I had worked so hard to create had started to slip away.

The last time I sat down to write a blog post was back in July. As I have done so many times before, I told myself that I would get back into the habit and post more often. Then, as life became more hectic, it all became a bit overwhelming.

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Farewell to the Prince of Darkness: A Birmingham Reflection on Ozzy Osbourne

Posted on July 25, 2025 by suzie81speaks

At the end of June, I was walking past the train station in Birmingham on my way to meet a friend for lunch. Just across the road is the now-iconic Black Sabbath mural, a striking tribute created by the brilliant Daniel Mr Mural. As I glanced over, I noticed a small crowd gathering and photographers.

And then I saw Tony Iommi and Bill Ward.

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It Smells Like Holiday

Posted on May 6, 2025 by suzie81speaks

Over the past week, the UK has been basking in a stretch of glorious weather – the kind of weather that we usually have to board a plane to find. On the rare occasions when we experience this, I find myself saying to The Bloke, “It smells like holiday.”

It’s a difficult thing to describe, but it evokes memories of going out in the evening while on holiday in a Mediterranean country, a combination of heat fading from the day and the subtle scents that come with dry, sunny weather.

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Protecting Your Peace: How to Set Boundaries and Stop People-Pleasing

Posted on May 3, 2025 by suzie81speaks

For some of us, people-pleasing is practically a personality trait. It’s not always obvious at first – saying yes to plans, helping someone out, being the “reliable one” in the group. But when your need to be helpful starts draining your energy, your time, and your sense of self, something has to give.

I spent decades saying yes when I wanted to say no.

That’s not an exaggeration. I organised outings I didn’t want to go on, stayed out late because someone insisted I couldn’t leave yet, did jobs for others that had absolutely nothing to do with me, and found myself tangled in everyone else’s responsibilities – housesitting, pet sitting (LOTS of pet sitting), taking in endless parcels for neighbours who couldn’t be bothered to answer the door (who then expected me to drop them round later), picking up prescriptions, sitting in cars while friends ran their errands on the way to the place we were actually supposed to be going, I went along with what others want to eat, watch, or do, because I didn’t want to seem bossy – simply because I didn’t know how to say, “That’s not my responsibility.”